The number of coronavirus cases in Germany has risen sharply; official
data shows infections have reached 129, compared with 66 on Saturday.
More than half are in North Rhine-Westphalia. Follow the latest from DW
here.
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March 2, 2020
March 1, 2020
Taliban-US Deal IS A Fake Deal: "So-Called 'Peace Deal' Is Anything But": Critics Warn US-Taliban Deal Exposes Fallacies of Endless War Paradigm
The agreement, warned Rep. Barbara Lee, "leaves thousands of troops in
Afghanistan and lacks the critical investments in peacebuilding,
human-centered development, or governance reform needed to rebuild
Afghan society."
A Fake Deal ? USA-Taliban-Afghanistan |
Troop levels will be cut to 8,600 over the next 135 days and five bases will be closed. If both sides keep to their commitments, all U.S. military forces could leave Afghanistan by spring 2021, although Washington is thought to want to keep intelligence operatives on the ground fighting Isis and al-Qaida.
According to Lee, nobody should be fooled into thinking that this is a "peace" agreement.
"It leaves thousands of troops in Afghanistan and lacks the critical investments in peacebuilding, human-centered development, or governance reform needed to rebuild Afghan society," the Congresswoman said.
As peace advocates have been saying since even before the U.S. invasion took place in 2001, following the attacks of September 11, there was never a military solution to the situation in Afghanistan. That remains true today.
"Two decades of trying to bomb our way to peace have made clear: there is no U.S. military solution in Afghanistan," said Stephen Miles, executive director of Win Without War, in a statement.
While the reduction in U.S. military presence "is a welcome step," Stephens said, the agreement "utterly fails to confront the underlying logic of military occupation, lacks any strategy for long-term peace, and falls far short of accountability and justice. It is no 'peace deal.'"
Like Lee, Stephens said a deal that leaves nearly two-thirds of current U.S. forces in Afghanistan for 'counterterrorism' purposes—"bringing levels down to about where they were when Trump entered office"—cannot be considered a peace deal. While the drawdown can be considered a positive development, he said, the agreement "is far from an end to endless war—and further still from anything that would ensure stability, peace, and justice after decades of violence."
Read more at: "So-Called 'Peace Deal' Is Anything But": Critics Warn US-Taliban Deal Exposes Fallacies of Endless War Paradigm | Common Dreams News
Labels:
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Endless War,
Fake,
Fallacy,
Peace Agreement,
Taliban,
USA
EU Threat of Corona Virus: Coronavirus could be a bigger test for the EU than the refugee crisis
The coronavirus pounded the European Union this week with the biggest
test of its political, economic and social fabric since the refugee
crisis of five years ago.
Most dramatically, the Turkish government this week backed off from its commitment made in 2016, in return for 6 billion euros in EU funds, to prevent Syrian refugees from entering Europe. That followed a Thursday airstrike by Russian-backed Syrian forces in Syria’s Idlib province, killing at least 33 Turkish troops, with some turkish sources claiming more than 150 troops killed.
Even as Turkey ordered police, coast guard and border security officials to allow would-be refugees to pass into the EU, Bulgaria responded by sending an extra 1,000 troops to the frontier with Turkey and Greek police launched smoke grenades at one crossing to dissuade migrants.
Containing pathogens is a much different business than managing waves of refugees. However, what unites the two issues is how dramatically the European Union’s response will shape public attitudes about the institution’s relevance, responsiveness, and effectiveness at a crucial historic moment.
The impact of coronavirus on Europe’s future has the potential to be even more significant than the migrant crisis, particularly as it unfolds in almost biblical fashion atop a plague of other European maladies.
Tourist
wearing protective respiratory mask tours outside the Colosseo
monument were a common sight in the center of Rome..
The
coronavirus pounded the European Union this week with the biggest test
of its political, economic and social fabric since the refugee crisis of
five years ago.
The ripples from the European migrant crisis of 2015 continue until today with its dual shock to the EU’s unity and domestic politics. It triggered a wave of populism and nationalism, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, and Germany’s political fragmentation behind the weakening of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Even as Turkey ordered police, coast guard and border security officials to allow would-be refugees to pass into the EU, Bulgaria responded by sending an extra 1,000 troops to the frontier with Turkey and Greek police launched smoke grenades at one crossing to dissuade migrants.
Containing pathogens is a much different business than managing waves of refugees. However, what unites the two issues is how dramatically the European Union’s response will shape public attitudes about the institution’s relevance, responsiveness, and effectiveness at a crucial historic moment.
The impact of coronavirus on Europe’s future has the potential to be even more significant than the migrant crisis, particularly as it unfolds in almost biblical fashion atop a plague of other European maladies.
They include, but by no means are limited to: economic slowdown and possible recession (made more likely by coronavirus), the rise of populism and nationalism (stoked as well by the virus), disagreements about how to handle trade talks with a departing United Kingdom (which start Monday), internecine fights over the European budget, and ongoing German leadership crisis and French social upheaval.
The coronavirus morphed this past week into an increasingly global phenomenon that experts agree can no longer be contained. The hit to stock markets was $6 trillion, the biggest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis. By Friday, the WHO reported more than 78,000 cases and more than 2,790 deaths ion China – and 70 deaths in 52 other countries.
In Europe, what began as northern Italian phenomenon – where there have been more than 800 infections – has now reached Spain, Greece, Croatia, France, the UK, Switzerland, Romania, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, North Macedonia, and San Marino.
For Europe the Corana Virus is certainly a wake-up call and a national European Medical Emergency.
Read more at: Coronavirus could be a bigger test for the EU than the refugee crisis
Most dramatically, the Turkish government this week backed off from its commitment made in 2016, in return for 6 billion euros in EU funds, to prevent Syrian refugees from entering Europe. That followed a Thursday airstrike by Russian-backed Syrian forces in Syria’s Idlib province, killing at least 33 Turkish troops, with some turkish sources claiming more than 150 troops killed.
Even as Turkey ordered police, coast guard and border security officials to allow would-be refugees to pass into the EU, Bulgaria responded by sending an extra 1,000 troops to the frontier with Turkey and Greek police launched smoke grenades at one crossing to dissuade migrants.
Containing pathogens is a much different business than managing waves of refugees. However, what unites the two issues is how dramatically the European Union’s response will shape public attitudes about the institution’s relevance, responsiveness, and effectiveness at a crucial historic moment.
The impact of coronavirus on Europe’s future has the potential to be even more significant than the migrant crisis, particularly as it unfolds in almost biblical fashion atop a plague of other European maladies.
The ripples from the European migrant crisis of 2015 continue until today with its dual shock to the EU’s unity and domestic politics. It triggered a wave of populism and nationalism, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, and Germany’s political fragmentation behind the weakening of Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Even as Turkey ordered police, coast guard and border security officials to allow would-be refugees to pass into the EU, Bulgaria responded by sending an extra 1,000 troops to the frontier with Turkey and Greek police launched smoke grenades at one crossing to dissuade migrants.
Containing pathogens is a much different business than managing waves of refugees. However, what unites the two issues is how dramatically the European Union’s response will shape public attitudes about the institution’s relevance, responsiveness, and effectiveness at a crucial historic moment.
The impact of coronavirus on Europe’s future has the potential to be even more significant than the migrant crisis, particularly as it unfolds in almost biblical fashion atop a plague of other European maladies.
They include, but by no means are limited to: economic slowdown and possible recession (made more likely by coronavirus), the rise of populism and nationalism (stoked as well by the virus), disagreements about how to handle trade talks with a departing United Kingdom (which start Monday), internecine fights over the European budget, and ongoing German leadership crisis and French social upheaval.
The coronavirus morphed this past week into an increasingly global phenomenon that experts agree can no longer be contained. The hit to stock markets was $6 trillion, the biggest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis. By Friday, the WHO reported more than 78,000 cases and more than 2,790 deaths ion China – and 70 deaths in 52 other countries.
In Europe, what began as northern Italian phenomenon – where there have been more than 800 infections – has now reached Spain, Greece, Croatia, France, the UK, Switzerland, Romania, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, North Macedonia, and San Marino.
For Europe the Corana Virus is certainly a wake-up call and a national European Medical Emergency.
Read more at: Coronavirus could be a bigger test for the EU than the refugee crisis
February 29, 2020
The Netherlands: Second Dutch coronavirus patient identified, was also in Lombardy, Italy
A woman from Diemen on the outskirts of Amsterdam has been diagnosed
with coronavirus, making her the second Dutch victim of the disease, the
public health institute RIVM said on Friday lunchtime.
The woman has no connection with the first Dutch victim, from the south of the country, but had also recently been in Lombardy in Italy, where the virus is rampant, health officials say.
Read more at: Second Dutch coronavirus patient identified, was also in Lombardy - DutchNews.nl
The woman has no connection with the first Dutch victim, from the south of the country, but had also recently been in Lombardy in Italy, where the virus is rampant, health officials say.
Read more at: Second Dutch coronavirus patient identified, was also in Lombardy - DutchNews.nl
February 28, 2020
Outer Space: Astronomers detect biggest explosion in history of the universe
Researchers say the blast is the biggest since the Big Bang. It occurred
at the center of a galaxy cluster 390 million light years away.
Read more at:
https://www.dw.com/en/astronomers-detect-biggest-explosion-in-history-of-the-universe/a-52564205
Read more at:
https://www.dw.com/en/astronomers-detect-biggest-explosion-in-history-of-the-universe/a-52564205
Labels:
Big Bang,
bigger,
Center of the universe,
Explosion,
Outerspace,
Universe
February 27, 2020
Corona Virus hits Northern Europe: Norway announces first case of coronavirus as Sweden treats citizen returning from Italy
Norwegian health authorities on Wednesday
announced the first case of coronavirus in the Nordic nation in someone who
returned from China last week, but said the patient was not "in danger".
In Sweden a man in his 30s is being treated in hospital for the new coronavirus after visiting Italy, Swedish health authorities confirm.
https://www.thelocal.no/20200226/breaking-norway-announces-first-case-of-coronavirus and
https://www.thelocal.se/20200226/new-coronavirus-case-confirmed-in-gothenburg-sweden
In Sweden a man in his 30s is being treated in hospital for the new coronavirus after visiting Italy, Swedish health authorities confirm.
The patient fell ill after returning from Italy.
Read more at:https://www.thelocal.no/20200226/breaking-norway-announces-first-case-of-coronavirus and
https://www.thelocal.se/20200226/new-coronavirus-case-confirmed-in-gothenburg-sweden
February 26, 2020
The Netherlands: Coronavirus: no new measures following outbreak Italy - by William Nehra
The outbreak of Coronavirus in Northern Italy has not phased the RIVM, who insist they are prepared for a possible outbreak in the Netherlands.
“
We are well prepared for a possible introduction of the virus in the Netherlands. That structure stands, whether it is in China or in Italy,” said a spokesperson for the RIVM.
Read more at: Coronavirus: no new measures following outbreak Italy
“
We are well prepared for a possible introduction of the virus in the Netherlands. That structure stands, whether it is in China or in Italy,” said a spokesperson for the RIVM.
Read more at: Coronavirus: no new measures following outbreak Italy
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